It’s getting exhausting watching us play well enough to stay in it, only to fall apart right at the finish line. At some point, being "close" just feels like a slow way to lose. Does anyone else feel like the team is lacking that killer instinct needed to actually close things out?
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Posts by John Robinson9
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The Power of Humility
in Spirituality ·
To me, humility really means having true self-awareness—knowing exactly who you are, where you came from, and what kind of value you actually bring to the community.
Bringing up figures like Jesus, Mary, or Buddha doesn't really apply here, does it? They don't have personal accounts of their own lives to share; we only have the perspectives of those who witnessed them, which is inherently unreliable since it's mostly just subjective opinion.
How much happiness does a person need? Honestly, just one smile from a stranger can do it!
But how much misery does it take? A single harsh word or even just a cold look from someone you know is more than enough.
All this tells me is that you really ought to understand yourself first—only then should you even think about passing judgment on others.
Bringing up figures like Jesus, Mary, or Buddha doesn't really apply here, does it? They don't have personal accounts of their own lives to share; we only have the perspectives of those who witnessed them, which is inherently unreliable since it's mostly just subjective opinion.
How much happiness does a person need? Honestly, just one smile from a stranger can do it!
But how much misery does it take? A single harsh word or even just a cold look from someone you know is more than enough.
All this tells me is that you really ought to understand yourself first—only then should you even think about passing judgment on others.
Ego vs. Spirituality
in Spirituality ·
mistybison said:Do you believe the ego acts as an obstacle to spiritual progress?
Is diminishing the ego a byproduct of spiritual growth, or is reducing the ego a prerequisite for that growth to begin?
Certain teachings focus on the total "dissolution of the ego." Do you think such a feat is actually possible, or perhaps even necessary?
How has your relationship with the ego evolved on your own path? Is it expanding, shrinking, or fading away? Or have you simply shifted your perspective regarding it?
In your view, what is the true definition of the ego from a spiritual standpoint?
The word "ego" actually comes from Latin, meaning "I." It was popularized by Freud to represent things like self-confidence or self-esteem.
There is nothing inherently wrong with having an ego—after all, if you don't love yourself, how can you possibly love anyone else?
The real obstacle is when someone becomes overly inflated—you know, those people who are just "full of themselves." They’re the ones constantly shouting "me, me, me!" Honestly, you just have to tell them to get lost.
Is shrinking the ego a result of spiritual growth, or do you actually have to diminish the ego first to allow that growth to happen?
Well, you hit the nail on the head there! (And I say that because I certainly know where I stand.)
People who practice lowering their self-importance are usually the ones who truly understand who they are. They realize the world doesn't revolve around their every whim; instead, they work to act in harmony with others who share similar values. No one is truly an island—there is always a whole network of people who helped shape who you've become.
Certain teachings talk about the "elimination of the ego." Do you think that's actually possible? Or even necessary?
Those are those Eastern philosophies that have become quite popular here in the States, though they haven't exactly gone mainstream. You could technically shut out the self entirely, but then... where would you be? Personally, that concept never quite sat right with me when I was studying it back in my younger days.
What happens to the ego on your spiritual journey? Does it grow? Shrink? Vanish? Or do you simply change your perspective on it?
Well, that really depends on how each person defines their "self," doesn't it?
Some things lift my soul up, while others pull it down. I use the word "soul" because when I say "I am me," I am talking about my soul—that core essence that makes me a unique individual in this life.
After all, every single person is unique; no one else is exactly like you.
Because of that, any transformation—whether we become better or worse versions of ourselves—starts as an individual process. Eventually, others define us based on their own perspectives, so we end up being a product of both forces.
How do we remember other people? By how they relate to us—basically, by the impact they have on our own selves.
That’s the primary cut; everything after that is just the complex web of interpersonal relationships.
In your opinion, what actually *is* the ego in a spiritual sense?
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I believe I've answered that quite thoroughly enough.